Version 2.0 Major Update: The Next Gen Era

It has been two years since the last major version jump, and Cygames has finally dropped the curtain on Version 2.0. This isn’t just a patch; it’s practically a sequel. With a complete graphical engine overhaul, new gameplay modes, and a restructured progression system, Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is entering its next generation.

In this breakdown, we will cover every significant change, from the flashy new 60FPS race animations to the nitty-gritty of the economy rework.

1. Graphics Engine Overhaul

The most immediate change is visual. The game has moved to a newer version of Unity, allowing for:

• Ray-traced Lighting (PC/High-End Mobile): Night races now feature realistic stadium lighting reflections on mud and puddles.
• Dynamic Weather: Rain isn’t just a filter anymore. It accumulates on the track, changes intensity mid-race, and affects the racers’ models (mud spatters, wet hair physics).
• 60 FPS Consistency: Optimization for newer Snapdragon chips means the legendary “lag at the final corner” should be a thing of the past.

2. New Mode: Legendary Races (PvE)

For years, players asked for a mode harder than URA Finals but less stressful than Champions Meeting. Enter Legendary Races.

The Concept

This is a permanent “Boss Rush” mode. You are challenged by historical legends of the turf. These aren’t just standard CPU opponents; they have “Awakened Stats” (breaking the 1200 cap unseen) and exclusive skills.

The Rewards: Skill Awakening

Beating a Legend drops Legend Shoes.

• Eclipse Shoes: Used to upgrade Unique Skills to Level 6.
• Effect of Level 6: Increases the duration or effect value by roughly 10%, and adds a secondary minor effect (e.g., a small heal attached to a speed buffs).

3. The Friendship System Rework

The “Support Card” system remains, but the way we interact with Friend Points comes with a twist.

The “Circle” Update

Circles (Guilds) are no longer just for shoe requesting.

• Circle Races: A weekly cooperative mode where Circle members contribute distance run to a global map. Reaching checkpoints unlocks shared Circle Buffs (e.g., +5% Fan Gain for all members).
• Friendship Point Shop: Overhauled. You can now buy “Blank Star Fragments”. Collecting 50 of these allows you to increase the level cap of any SSR card by 1 level (up to Level 50), effectively acting as a F2P “Limit Break” mechanic, albeit a slow one.

4. Training Scenario: “U.A.F. Grand Prix”

While Grand Masters is still the meta for pure stats, Version 2.0 introduces the U.A.F. Grand Prix scenario, designed specifically for Skill Point Farming.

Mechanics

• Genre Training: Instead of Speed/Stamina, training is divided into “Genres” (Athletics, Strategy, Rhythm).
• The Loop: Winning genre competitions grants “Skill Books”.
• The Payoff: This scenario gives roughly 20-30% fewer raw stats than Grand Masters but provides nearly 4000 Skill Points per run. It is the go-to scenario for building Debuffers or Team Stadium scorers who need cheap white skills.

5. UI and Quality of Life

The UI clutter has been addressed.

• “Quick Setup”: A new button in the Training setup screen that automatically selects the highest-level support cards for your chosen strategy (e.g., “Auto-Pick: Runner Deck”).
• Inheritance Search: Finally, you can search for friends by specific criteria like “Has 3-star Blue Factor + URA Scenario Factor + Corner Recovery Hint.”
• Skip Ticket Update: You can now use skip tickets on Daily Legendary Races, saving about 5 minutes of daily chores.

6. Balance Adjustments (Summary)

(Full details in our separate Balance Patch article).

• Guts Buff: Guts now reduces the “stamina tax” of position keeping mechanics.
• Position Sense: The logic for “blocked” states has been loosened. Power stats now more effectively allow racers to push through gaps.

7. The New Gacha: “Ticket Exchange”

A controversial but welcome change.

• The Spark: The “Spark” (pity) ceiling remains at 200 pulls.
• The Change: Exchange Points now convert to “Recruitment Tickets” at a 1:1 ratio when the banner ends, up to a cap of 50.
• Meaning: If you pull 50 times on a banner and don’t get the character, those 50 points aren’t wasted. They become 50 tickets for the next banner. This “Soft Pity Carryover” is huge for F2P resource management.

Conclusion

Version 2.0 is a statement of intent. Cygames is doubling down on the longevity of Uma Musume. The graphical updates make it feel modern, the Legendary Races give PvE players a long-term goal, and the “Soft Pity” carryover respects the player’s time and wallet.

The servers will be hammered on launch day. Expect ‘Error 202’. But once we get in, the race track will never look start the same.